Title:
Dying To Meet You (Book 1)
Author: Kate Klise
Illustrator: M. Sarah Klise
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (April 6, 2009, October 19, 2009)
Reading Level: Grades 4 to 8
Source: ARC
Rating: 5 Stars
Description from GoodReads:
Ignatius B. Grumply moves into the Victorian mansion at 43 Old Cemetery Road hoping to find some peace and quiet so he can crack a wicked case of writer's block. But 43 Old Cemetery Road is already occupied by eleven-year-old Seymour, his cat Shadow, and an irritable ghost named Olive. It's hard to say who is more outraged. But a grumpy old ghost just might inspire this grumpy old man--and the abandoned kid? Well, let's just say his last name's Hope.
Sisters Kate and M. Sarah Klise, the creators of the award-winning Regarding the . . . series, offer up this debut volume in a clever new series told in letters, drawings, newspaper articles, a work-in-progress manuscript, and even an occasional tombstone engraving.Title:
Over My Dead Body (Book 2)
Author: Kate Klise
Illustrator: M. Sarah Klise
Publisher: Harcourt Children's Books (April 6, 2009, October 19, 2009)
Reading Level: Grades 4 to 8
Source: ARC
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Description from GoodReads:
The International Movement for the Safety & Protection Of Our Kids & Youth (IMSPOOKY) dictates that Seymour cannot live in the mansion at 43 Old Cemetery Road "without the benefit of parents." Ignatius B. Grumply tries to explain to Dick Tater, the head of IMSPOOKY, that he and Seymour are in a lovely living (and publishing!) arrangement with the ghost of Olive C. Spence. Dick Tater is not convinced. But this clever trio can’t be broken up as easily as he imagines . . .**** This review contains some minor spoilers. ******
I normally only review one book at a time; however, since these books are a part of series I decided to review them together. Klise's
43 Old Cemetery Road is about an 11 year old boy named Seymour who lives in a very large home. There is a resident ghost named Olive. She died in 1911 but still haunts the house. Seymour and Olive have struck up a friendship.
In book one, Seymour's self-centered parents take off to Europe and rent out their home to Mr. Grumply, a 64 year old writer who is struggling to write his next book. He didn't realize but a clause in the rental agreement assures that whoever rents the place must also care for Seymour. This unlikely trio is not necessarily happy about this arrangement. Through a series of letters that they write to one another as well as others, a tenuous agreement is reached regarding their living arrangements. Next, they must tackle Mr. Grumply's writer block and how to prevent the house from being demolished.
Dying to Meet You is followed by
Over My Dead Body (book 2). It is a few months later, and we find Olive, Seymour, and Mr. Grumply living quite happily at 43 Old Cemetery Road. Mr. Grumply has overcome his writer's block and the trio are working on the next installment of their book which is due to readers by Halloween. Mr. Tater comes to town advocating that ghost stories must be banned, even burned, and that Seymour can not be left to live with a writer and a ghost.
I really loved these books and want to start a letter writing campaign to convince Kate Klise and her sister, M. Sarah Klise to create many more books in the series. Kate has created very likable characters in Seymour, Grumply, and Olive. The letters being written between the characters made me laugh. Well, I pretty much laughed from the beginning of book 1 to the end of book 2. M. Sarah Klise's illustrations, which include line drawings, letters, and newspaper headlines/articles, compliment the text and provide variety, interest, and detail.
It is great to find a book or a book series that appeals to both girls and boys. Nine and ten year olds (and their adult parents) will be hooked. Even my reluctant readers enjoy these stories. If you are a parent or a teacher that is trying to find a book to entice that finicky school-age reader, I would suggest that you pick up a copy of these books at your local library or bookstore. Teachers: You might need to keep more than one set in your classroom library. I am certain it will be a hit.